News Release

Monday, November 26, 2001

Los Angeles: On November 24, 2001, at approximately 5:25 p.m., a fatal hit and run, automobile vs. pedestrian, traffic collision occurred on 28th Street just west of Vermont Avenue in the Southwest Area of Los Angeles.

The collision occurred when the victim, 31 year-old Tatina Medrano Caballero Palacios, attempted to enter her vehicle from the driver's side. Palacios was holding her one-year old child. Before Palacios could enter her vehicle, she was struck by a 1987 Honda Accord, which was travelling westbound on 28th Street from Vermont Avenue.

The impact caused Palacios to drop her son, and her body to become airborne. Palacios body subsequently struck a nearby telephone pole and then the roof of a parked 1987 Cadillac Fleetwood before coming to rest on the pavement. The driver of the Honda Accord, however, continued travelling westbound on 28th Street failing to render assistance.

Witnesses to the collision followed the Honda and observed the Honda collide into a chain link fence located on the northwest corner of Budlong Avenue and 27th Street. Witnesses were able to detain the driver after he attempted to flee on foot. The driver, later identified as 34 year-old Uleses Castillo from Los Angeles, was subsequently taken into custody and booked at 77th Jail for felony vehicular manslaughter w/gross negligence while intoxicated.

Palacios sustained severe head and body trauma in the collision and was transported to USC Medical Center. Fortunately, the baby did not sustain any injuries. Palacios, was admitted but later pronounced dead on November 25, 2001.

The follow-up investigation into this collision has been assigned to South Traffic Detectives.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Grace Brady, Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.